I won’t run again for president, says Liberia’s George Weah
Liberia’s outgoing president, George Weah, has announced that he will not be seeking re-election after his defeat in the recent presidential elections, according to local media reports on Monday.
Weah, who rose to fame as an international football star, won the presidency in 2017 but lost to Joseph Boakai in the November polls.
Speaking to his congregants at a church outside the capital city of Monrovia on Sunday, Weah referred to his age as a determining factor, as he would be 67 years old during the next presidential vote in 2029.
This decision marks the end of Weah’s political career, as he prepares to hand over power to Boakai, who is set to be inaugurated on January 22.
“I am 57 now and our retirement age is 65 and six years from now I will be 63 and I cannot work for two years,” he said.
“You are not going to drag me to politics until I reach 90 years,” he added.
“I became a president, so I say thank you Liberians that I became president whether it was one time or 50 times, but I can guarantee you that it’s one time.”
2027: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso have agreed to join forces – Utomi
In an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, January 14, political economist Professor Pat Utomi disclosed that the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have agreed to collaborate and form a strong political party.
Professor Utomi did not provide specific details about the new political party, but he emphasized the importance of building a united front against the current administration.
He said: “It’s a really clean start. You have to start from the premise that Nigeria has not had a political party since 1999. And let’s be very honest with ourselves. What we have managed is to create platforms that enable machine politics from which to grab power, usually for state capture. If you will want to test that, check how much the quality of life of a Nigerian has improved since 1999.
“It’s frightening but the truth is a matter that in 1999, a political class managed to build a certain coalition of accommodation to keep the military out and share the spoils of power in Nigeria and somehow did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian people to improve the quality of their lives. This is why you can see Nigeria deteriorating, becoming the poverty capital of the world, becoming the centre of widespread violence everywhere.”
Nasarawa: PDP, APC sign peace pact ahead of S’Court judgment
As the people of Nasarawa State eagerly await the Supreme Court’s verdict on the 2023 governorship election, the state police command has taken proactive measures to ensure peace and security. In a significant development, the police command has signed a peace agreement with the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The peace pact was signed in Lafia on Monday, with the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, reiterating the commitment of the police force to maintaining law and order. Commissioner Nadada made it clear that anyone found engaging in any form of trouble before, during, or after the judgment will face severe consequences.
He said, “This meeting is aimed at ensuring peace before, during and after the Supreme Court judgment. It is also expected that the party leaders would bring this peace agreement to all their loyalists and supporters across the state.
“The joint security committee has also resolved to work together towards ensuring a sustainable peace in the state.
Minister vows to deal with saboteurs vandalising power facilities
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Power to take decisive action against those working against the improvement of power supply in the country. This directive was revealed by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, during his visit to the Ayede sub-regional station in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Minister Adelabu, who recently returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after leaving to contest the governorship election under the Accord Party in 2023, highlighted the level of vandalism of Transmission Company of Nigeria facilities by saboteurs across the country.
He also mentioned that the ministry has received the support of the National Security Adviser, Nubu Ribadu, in dealing with these saboteurs.
The minister said, “We must live up to expectations. We will not relent until we achieve improvement in power supply. We are working with everyone to protect national assets. We are working with the NSA for adequate protection of power facilities. We can see the saboteurs at work.
